Firing key



Dec. 1-5, 1931.

J. S. JONES FIRING KEY File d June 17, 1927 TOR Y Patented Dec. 15, 193 1 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE JOSEPH s JONES, or BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR, BY ,MESNE'ASSIGNMENTS', To

cans. CORY CORPORATION, A coaronarron or NEW YORK FIRING KEY Application and June 17, 1927. Serial m. 199,568. I

This invention is an improvement in firing keys, and relates more particularly to keys of the quick break type. a

One of the primary objects of the inven- '5) tion is the provision in a construction wherein a spring is utilized to relatively 'move the contacts, with a plunger shaped to tension the spring and to direct the contracting energy thereof to bodily move the spring, a

new and improved means for operating the plunger, and'improved mechanism for supporting the parts.

A further object is the provision of a simple construction, especially adapted for use on shipboard, wherein theworking parts are fully protected against the elements.

With these and other objects in view the invention consists in the construction and novel combination ofparts fully described 2 hereinafter, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and ointed out in the claims appended hereto, it being understood that various changes in the form, proportion, size and minor details of construction withinthe scope of the claims, may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the drawings forming a part hereof Fig. 1 is a longitudinalsection of an em bodiment of the invention.--

Figs. 2 and 3 are sections on the lines 2-2 and3-3'respectively,of'Fig. 1. I 1

Fig. 4 is a partial side elevation of the improved key showing one type of mounting.

other types of mounting.

In the present embodiment of the invention, the improved key comprises a cylindrical casing 1, usually of brass, internally threaded at each end and one end, the lower in use, has inserted therein a terminal tube 2 also of brass. This tubeas shown has an internal annular shoulder 5, and a flanged collar 4 is threaded into the tube at the lower end thereof as shown. The end of the conduit 5 in which is arranged the leads 6 and 6a of the electric circuitis provided with a l1ead7 held between the shoulder 3 and a ring 8 at the inner end of the collar 4. g

The leads passjup through an insulating ring or washer 9 to a connection with studs Figs. 5 and 6 are similar views showing 10 and 10a respectively, which are supported in a base 11 of insulating material, such for instance as bakelite. Above the base each stud is encircled by'an insulating sleeve 12, and above the sleeve each stud has connected s5 therewith a contact element 13 and 13a respectively, held in place by a nut 14, a nut lock being arranged between each nut and the contact element as shown. The studs and the contact elements are of copper.

The elements 13 and 13a are the fixed element-s, and a bridge composed of spaced plates 15 and 16 carrying between them a snap or garter spring 15a. The bridge is mounted to move longitudinally of the body on the 1. sleeves 12. As shown in Fig. 1, the ends of the plates ofthe bridge are notched to receive these sleeves, which guide the bridge in its movement toward and from the elements 13-13(1,

A block 17 of insulating material, as for in- 110 stance bakelite is arranged above the fixed contact elements, being held in spaced relation with respect tothe base by means of a spacing. sleeve 18. A second sleeve 19 isarrangecl above the block,"between it and a guide cap 15 20 which closes the upper'end of the body 1 and has threaded engagement therewith.

This cap is usually of brass. a An operating rod 21 has guided movement in the block 17 the said rod having connectso edwith theupper end thereof a socket or head 22. The upper end of the rod is received in the socket,.and pinned thereto as shown. A spring 23 is arranged between the block 17 and a marginal flange 24at the upper end of the head, and the spring acts normally to hold the rod in the position of Fig. 1." Therod is operated in its downward movement by means of a plunger 25, having guided movement in the cap 20. The inner end of. the plunger has a head 26 which engagesla central depression in the head22, and theouter end has a head 27 for operating the plunger 25. The opening in the cap through which the plunger passes'is enlarged annularly from 05 near-the inner end to the outer end, and a suitable packing 28 encircles the plunger within the enlarged portion. A packing ring 29 bears against the. plunger, and a spring 30 is arranged between the ring and a gland 1 nut 31 threaded into the outer end of the en largement. The spring holds the packing normally compressed, forming a seal at this point between the plunger and the cap.

Referring to Fig. 1, it Will be seen that the rod 21 iscam shaped, gradually tapering in both directions-froma point intermediate its ends. The spring 15a encircles the rod under tension within the bridge, between the plates andIGi' This spring is held in'an annular chamber in the bridge as shown, and the chamber is of a size to enable expansion. of.

the spring as it rides over the enlarged part of the plunger. As previously stated the 15 plunger tapers in both directions, toward its free" end, and toward the. head 22, and: the taperin each: direction; is gradual andv uniform;

The; spring is of" circular formation, and go whenthe'rod is moved downward, so that. the spring passes the largestporticn thereof,.it will ofits own resiliency move up the'taper'oi' the. rod above the'largest pantithereof', raising the bridge, and bringing; the bridge-1-516 into contact with the elements: 1313a. When the rod; is" allowed to move upward under theinfl'uenceof the spring 23, as soonas thelargest: part of. the rod is passed by the spring. it will of its own resiliency move widownthelowered tapered portion, breaking the-circuit.

Thezspring 23 andsthespringfiO are'also -usually ofl phosplior-bronze, and the cap 20,-the plunger 25, the head 22, andthe packing-ring 85 29 are usually. of brass.- Theiimproved firing key may be arranged or supported in. manv different ways; In Fig; 1', it is shownadapted for'connectionwith a periscope; A bracket indicated: at 32. is connected to the body 1. at one end of: the bracket, theother end being adaptedi for connection withthe periscope; A's showndnFig. 2, the bra cket: hasan arc shaped portion-33, fitting about thebody, and securedthereto by means of'screws 34.

In Fig. 4 a mounting for attaching the keytoa bulkhead: is shown; This mounting is in t-heform of acurvedzplate'37 securedfto the body of the-key indicated generally at 38 in'the-same mannerasthe bracket 32 is secured to-the' body of the Fig. l construction Tlieplatehas feet 39 for'connection withthe bulkhead. thus-to mount the key. In 5 a-director mounting type is shown. In thisarrangement the bracket-.40is inthe-form ofapistolgrip; A: curved plate -41': iscarried by the grip, and this is secured" to thefiring key indicated generally at 42, in the same manner as is secured the bracket. 32. An operatinglever 43 is pivoted to the/grip as indicated': at 44,. and one: end of' the: lever overliesthehead 45 of the firin key, the said headicorresponding to the head 27 of'Fig. 1. The otherend of the lever is'in position to be engaged by: one'armof the U=shaped trigger.

46-pivot'ed' to the grip at 47. A guard 48 is provided for the trigger, and it will be apparent that the key may be held and aimed like a pistol, and fired by pressing the trigger 46.

In Fig. 6 a construction is shown of the hand wheel mountingtype. In this arrangement a bracket 49 is connected. to the firing key indicated generally at 50 in the same manner as the bracket 32. A threaded stud 51 extends from the bracket, and the stud'is engaged by a nut 52, whichis locked thereto by means of a cotter pin 53. A spacer 54 of brass or the like is arranged on the stem betweentheznut and a locking nut 55.

In this type, the firing key may be connectedito t'he'rim'of the hand wheel of a director, directorscope, or gun trainor elevating hand wheel, taking the place of the hand wheel handle; The hand wheel is usually connected to an elevation or azimuth gear. gitudinal axis of the firing key will always be vertical, because of the running fit of the spacer 54 in; its supporting-hole in the handle.

It will be noticedreferring to Fig. 3, that the-terminals of the leads 6 and 6a are in separate chambers in the. base 11. These chambers-extend substantially diametrical to the base, and are'separated by an insulating partition as shown. Below the insulating washer 9 the leads have the usual insulating coating, and only those parts of the'leads above this washer are denuded. The washer gconvertsthechambers 36 intoclosed chamers.

What. is claimed as new is 1'. In a firing key construction, a plunger having. guided longitudinal movement, fixed studs' supported at opposite sides of the plunger, each carrying at its upper end; a"

fixedacontact anda sleeve'of insulating material. for holding'the contact in fixed posi tion, a movable contact comprising a bridge having an opening through which the plunger passes, and having its ends notched to receive the sleeves as guides in the move.- ment of the bridge, said bridge being com posed' of upper and'lower spaced-members, a garter spring encircling the plunger between the members, said plunger having a head trally disposed recess, conducting: rods exif;

The lon-' tending up from the terminal posts, insulating guide sleeves surroundin the rods and located at opposite sides of t e casing, contacts secured to the tops of the rods and resting on the sleeves, a contact bridge piece having spaced walls'of disk form retaining between them a garter spring and having peripheral notches by which the bridge is golded to reciprocate on the sleeves, and an operating plunger of double tapered form mounted for reciprocation at the center of the easing, to pass-through a central aperture in the contact bridge and to the said recess in said insulating block, and being adapted also to cooperate with the garter spring to move the contact bridge.

3. In a circuit making and breakin device, a plurality of terminal posts, rigi conductors extending from said terminal posts,

insulating guide members surrounding said rigid conductors, contacts secured to the ends of said rigid conductors and ositioned to be supported by said guide mem rs, a brid 'ng contact movable along said guidemem rs into and out of registry with said first named contacts, means for so moving said bridging contact comprising a rod passing freely through said bridging contact and having a tapered end projecting therebeyond, and a unitary insulating member adapted to support said terminal posts, receive said tapered end, and limit the movement of said bridging contact.

Signed at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, this 13th day of June, A. D. 1927.

JOSEPH S. JONES. 

